Ammonia-generator.



C. W. VOGT.

AMMONIA GENERATOR. APPLlcATmN mm ocT.15. 1915.

Patented Dee. 12, 1916.

@Nl itElWl Fim.,

CLARENCE W. VOG'I, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AMMONIA-GENERATOR.

Application filed Gotober 15, 1915.

To aZZ Lo/wm t may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. VoGT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ammonia-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

rllhe present invention relates generally to that type of ammonia generator in which the ammonia gas (NH3) is driven off from the mother-liquor or aqua-ammonia by heat. A very simple way to heat the liquor is by the use of steam, and the temperature which can be thus secured depends among other things upon the pressure at which the steam is supplied. However, the features of the present invention are not limited to use in connection with steam heating. Ordinarily, a temperature approximating 220-2500 Fahrenheit is suiiiciently high to secure satisfactory operation, and when steam is used as the heating agent, it is rarely found necessary or desirable to use a steam pressure greater than about l5 pounds per square inch.

The pressure of the ammonia gas will depend upon a number of factors, but in many ammonia plants, such as ice plants, the ammonia pressure will run to comparatively high figures, frequently reaching E200-250 pounds per square inch.

The ammonia gas tends to very rapidly cut away and destroy any packing material such as non-metallic gaskets and the like, which may be used in joints or connections. This tendency is of course enhanced by the presence of higher pressures. Therefore, it is desirable to so arrange the construction that the number of joints may be reduced to a minimum, and to so arrange the parts that whatever joints are necessary will be of a nature which can be very readily and easily taken care of.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a generator such that the ammonia gas land the liquor will be contained within a portion, which can be readily built for the handling of high pressures, and which can be built with/a minimum number' of joints and joints of such a nature that they can be readily rendered gas-tight by the use of metallic packings and the like. Also to provide a construction such that the relatively large drum or cylinder will be subjected only to the comparatively low Specification of Letters Patent.

)Patented Dec. i12, 119316..

Serial No. 56,137.

steam pressure instead of to a relatively high ammonia pressure. This will make it possible to effect a very large saving of material and weight in the construction of the generator, because the thickness of the material used in the drum or cylinder will depend directly upon the pressure within the same.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawing: The same shows a vertical longitudinal section through the generator, portions of the pipes being broken away so as to show their interior construction.

In the arrangement illustrated, the steam is contained within the cylinder or chamber l. The steam, or other heat supplying agent enters at the inlet 2, and any condensation is discharged through the outlet 3, the exact position and relative sizes not being limited to those shown in the drawing. Extending lengthwise through the body of the chamber are the double tubes l. Each of these comprises an outer tube 5, and an inner tube 6 of lesser diameter, running throughout the greater portion of the length of the outer tube. The front ends of the outer tubes are flanged or otherwise connected into the head 7, and their rear ends are closed in any suitable manner as shown at 8. The inner tubes project forward of the head 7 and are connected into the front head 9. The space l0 between the heads '7 and 9 is inclosed by a cylindrical sheet ,1.1, and the bolts l2 draw the heads 7 and 9 solidly` toward each other and clamp the sheet ll between them. A flanged head '13 is also held in place by these bolts, and the space 14 between the head 9 and the flanged head 13 communicates with all of the inner tubes.

The rich liquor is delivered into the space 14 through a connection l5, the ammonia gas is delivered from the space 10 through the connection 1.6, and the weak liquor is delivered from the space l0 through the connection 17. The sizes of the inner and outer tubes bear such relation to each other that the liquor may flow back from the space lll through the inner tubes to the rear ends of the outer tubes, and thence forward between the two tubes into the space 10. ln this way a counter-current flow is secured in each of the double tubes. As the liquor is flowing forward, it is subjected to the maximum temperature existing Within the cylinder body, depending upon the heating agent used, and the ammonia gas is drivenv off from the liquor so that by the time the liquor reaches the space 10 a practically complete separation has taken place.

It Will be observed that the only portions subjected to the heavy ammonia pressure are the heads 7, 9 and 13, the sheet 11, and the outer tubes. These outer tubes may be very securely fastened into the head 7, and their rear ends S may be yvery perfectly closed so that these connections can be readily rendered gas-tight. By drawing the heads 7, 9 and 13 solidly together against the sheet 11, the spaces 10 and 14 may be very readily rendered gas-tight so that it Will be seen that all portions of the structure subjected to the ammonia pressure can be very readily handled. On the other hand, the only pressure existing Within the cylinder 1 is the pressure of the heating agent, and as before stated, this Will ordinarily be quite small.

Vhile I have herein shown and described only a single construction embodying the features of my invention, still it will be understood that l am in no Wise limited to said construction, except as l may limit myself in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an ammonia generator the combination of a steam shell closed at both ends, an ammonia chamber adjacent to one end of said shell, a liquor chamber adjacent to an exposed face of the ammonia chamber, a plurality of tubes Within the steam chamber, one end of each of said tubes extending through the end Wall of the steam chamber and co-mmunicating with the ammonia chamber, and the other end of each of said tubes being closed, an inner tube Within each of said first mentioned tubes, each inner tube extending across the ammonia chamber and through the Wall of the same into communication With the liquor chamber, a steam inlet leading into the steam chamber, a condensation connection leading from the steam chamber, a strong liquor connection into the liquor chamber, a Weak liquor connection leading from the ammonia chamber, and an ammonia connection in the upper portion of the ammonia chamber, substantially as described.

2. In an ammonia generator the combination of an ammonia chamber, a liquor chamber adjacent to one wall of thc ammonia chamber, a plurality of tubes connected into another Wall of the ammonia chamber, each of said tubes having its free end closed, an inner tube within each of said first menioned tubes, each inner tube extending across the ammonia chamber and through the wall of the same into communication with the liquor chamber, means for conducting heating medium into contact with the first mentioned tubes, a strong liquor inlet leading into the liquor chamber, a Weak liquor connection leading from the ammonia chamber, and an ammonia connection leading from the upper portion of the ammonia chamber, substantially as described.

3. ln an ammonia generator the combination of an ammonia chamber, a plurality of tubes projecting from a Wall of said chamber, each tube having its inner end in communication with the interior of the ammonia chamber and its outer end closed, a liquor chamber adjacent to another wall of the ammonia chamber, a plurality of inner tubes Within said first mentioned tubes, each of said inner tubes extending across the ammonia chamber and communicating with the liquor chamber, means for conducting heating medium into contact with the first mentioned tubes, there being an opening into the liquor chamber for the admission of strong liquor thereto, and there being an opening from the ammonia chamber for the discharge of Weak liquor therefrom.

'-1. In an ammonia generator, the combination of an ammonia chamber, a plurality of' tubes outside of said chamber, each of said tubes having its interior in communication with said chamber, a liquor chamber adjacent to the ammonia chamber, a plurality of inner tubes within said first mentioned tubes, each inner tube extending across the ammonia chamber and having its interior in con'imunication with the liquor chamber, means for conducting heating medium into contact with the lirst mentioned tubes, there being an opening into the liquor chamber for the admission of strong liquor thereto, and there being openings in the ammoniay chamber for delivering weak liquor and ammonia from the ammonia chamber.

CLARENCE W. VOGT.

lVitnesses:

J. P. EDINGER, A. P. DoUGi-IERTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

